Karachi: At least 13 people, including women and children, were killed and several others were injured after a powerful gas explosion tore through an apartment building in Karachi.
The blast occurred in a residential neighbourhood of the port city, the largest in Pakistan and the capital of Sindh province. According to local police chief Rizwan Patel, part of the multi-storey structure collapsed following the explosion, trapping residents under the rubble.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene and launched a search-and-rescue operation that continued for hours as workers combed through debris in search of survivors. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as efforts continue.
Most homes in Karachi are supplied with natural gas for cooking, but due to persistent low pressure in the system, many households also use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which have been linked to several accidental blasts in the past.
The tragedy comes months after a similar incident in Islamabad, where a gas explosion following a wedding reception at a house killed eight people, including the bride and groom, as guests gathered for celebrations. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the latest explosion, while authorities urged residents to follow safety measures when using gas connections and cylinders.
Emergency services said the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, some of them in critical condition, as authorities appealed for blood donations. Local administration officials have cordoned off the affected area to prevent further casualties and to facilitate rescue work, while engineers assess the structural safety of surrounding buildings.
Residents who lost their homes were temporarily relocated to safer locations as relief teams distributed food and essential supplies. Authorities in Karachi also announced compensation for the families of the deceased and assured that strict action would be taken if negligence or safety violations were found to have contributed to the disaster.
MOST READ | Meta faces landmark trial on social media addiction
